Action Alert

August 29, 2011

Rectal Injection Bill Escapes from Committee; Contact Assembly and Senate to Kill This Bad Measure

The CTA-opposed measure, SB 161, requiring school employees to rectally administer the drug valium to students experiencing epileptic seizures while in classes, is in the full Assembly, where it could be heard as early as Tuesday.  If approved by the Assembly, SB 161 will go back to the Senate for final approval.

It is urgent that you contact your State Assembly Member and State Senator immediately to urge them to vote against SB 161.

Educators are concerned about the danger to students by having non-medical personnel -- including teachers, other certificated personnel, and education support professionals -- administer the drug.

Educators believe it is unrealistic to assume non-medically trained school employees will receive sufficient training to distinguish between different types of seizures and recognize whether the seizure can be safely treated with Diastat.   The manufacturer's instructions call for the medication to be administered through a student's rectal cavity while she/he is in the middle of an epileptic seizure. Educational personnel would be required to administer the drug to students wherever the seizure occurs - the playground, the school bus, a field trip, or a classroom.

Educators are concerned about the health and safety of all school children. SB 161 is the wrong answer to get students the health services they need.  Under current law, parents can already use the 504 process to get their child specialized medical services.

To learn more about the bill and to take action against it, click on http://capwiz.com/nea/ca/home/

Updated information about SB 161 is available at www.cta.org. 

Specifically, posted at these links are a CTA letter on the bill, a Coalition letter on the bill, and an AP article about the bill's potential impact on student health:

·         http://www.cta.org/~/media/97A4CD4E5D964E4EA894F6F42CD427C7.ashx?h=16&thn=1&w=16  - CTA  letter

·         http://www.cta.org/~/media/43A3B4838DBF45449610E02203156770.ashx?h=16&thn=1&w=16 - Coalition letter

·         http://www.cta.org/~/media/CBF258405EBA40BFA8ACE76651D52310.ashx?h=16&thn=1&w=16  - AP/Sacramento Bee article